shakespearemom

I just finished the climax for my novel, and I announced to everyone what I had done–and since we are on vacation, that included lots of family. Some relatives just rolled their eyes (or acted like I had not said anything), but my husband was really happy. Then, however, he was really confused, for my next sentence was, “Wow, I might actually get this draft done in the next week or so.”

He said, “But I thought you just said you were done.”

“No, I said I’d finished writing the climax.”

“Isn’t that the ending?”

“No.”

“It isn’t?” He obviously didn’t believe me, but I reminded him of the theatre class we took together in college–the only class we took together–listing out the major movement of a story: Exposition, Inciting Incident, Rising Action, Climax, Falling Action, Denouement.

“You see, I have quite a bit to do now that the climax has happened,” I told him.

Rather than telling you what to do with your falling action and denouement, though, I would like to ask what you like as a reader. And be as honest as you can. So, here it is:

What do you like to happen after a climax? What is too much? What too little? What will leave a bad taste in your mouth? What will leave you unsatisfied? Give me examples, and perhaps I’ll add my own two cents in tomorrow’s blog.